CHAPTER VI 



A NEW REBELLION 



One hundred years and more ago, when America was young, 

 And writhing 'neath the tyrant's chain, the cruel oppressor's 



wrong ; 

 Her gallant sons for freedom's sake went at the country's call, 

 And faced the cannon's shot and shell to bravely fight or fall. 



They fought and bled for liberty, that this fair land of ours, 

 Might throw the tyrant's shackles by, yield but to higher pow- 

 ers. 

 They fought the fight, in God's good time they won the victory, 

 They laid the gory saber down and called their children free. 



But are we free, does the sun in Heav'n look down on men to- 

 day, 

 Freed from all bonds of slavery, who own no tyrant's sway ? 

 Do they tread America's standard soil all equals in her sight, 

 All sharers in her bounty under Equity and right? 



Go ask the busy farmer there, who toils from sun to sun, 

 If he enjoys that liberty, the right of such an one. 

 He'll tell you that there still remains injustice in the land, 

 That foul oppression grinds the sons of toil on every hand. 



The farmer knows no liberty, for Power holds the reins ; 

 He has to take the leavings after others count their gains. 

 His fruits of labor are controlled by grinding Capital, 

 And he is deemed a servant who, in fact, is king of all. 



To arms, to arms ! then men of brawn, you won the battle once, 

 Gird on your shining armor now and rally to the front ! 

 Take freedom for your battle-cry, your watchword Equity, 

 And make the tyrant tremble when your ready sword they see! 



55 



